The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are set to begin on Sunday, September 10, 2023, with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. This is the first of three races in the Round of 16, where 16 drivers will compete for 12 spots in the next round. The advanced drivers will be determined by their points standings and race wins.
The 16 playoff drivers are Martin Truex Jr., William Byron, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Michael McDowell, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Christopher Bell, and Austin Dillon. They have different odds and predictions for winning the championship based on their performance in the regular season and their history at the playoff tracks.
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr., along with Kyle Larson, is one of the co-favorites to win the championship. He enters the playoffs as the regular-season champion and the No. 1 seed, with five wins and 35 playoff points. He also has a strong record at Darlington, where he won last year and finished second in May.
Truex has consistently scored 14 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes throughout the season. He has also shown speed on all types of tracks, winning on short tracks (Martinsville and Richmond), intermediate tracks (Las Vegas and Darlington), and road courses (Sonoma). He is a two-time runner-up in the championship (2018 and 2019) and a former champion (2017).
Truex will likely advance to the next round without much trouble, as he has a cushion of points and a history of success at Darlington, Richmond, and Bristol.
He is also a threat to win any of the remaining races in the playoffs, as he has proven his ability to perform under pressure. His odds of winning the championship are +500.
William Byron
William Byron, currently one of the top contenders for the championship, shares the spotlight with Martin Truex Jr. Impressively. Byron enters the playoffs as the No. 1 seed, backed by an impressive track record of five wins and 35 playoff points. His abilities at Darlington are evident, finishing fourth in May and securing a solid sixth-place finish the previous year.
Byron’s performance has been outstanding throughout the season, boasting an impressive tally of 15 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes. His versatility shines through as he has triumphed on various track types, including intermediate tracks like Homestead and Kansas, short tracks like Dover, superspeedways like Talladega, and even road courses like Watkins Glen.
Byron’s track record includes a former Xfinity Series championship in 2017 and a Rookie of the Year title in 2018. With a substantial points lead and a history of consistency at key tracks like Darlington, Richmond, and Bristol, Byron is expected to easily sail through to the next round.
His adaptability and strong performance make him a formidable contender to win any of the remaining playoff races. As for his odds of clinching the championship, they currently stand at +750. Racing fans can engage more deeply in the action, evaluating the odds and making their predictions even more tangible using the promos and BetMGM bonus codes to place their bets.
Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin is one of the favorites to win the championship, behind Martin Truex Jr. and William Byron. He enters the playoffs as the No. 3 seed, with four wins and 29 playoff points. He also has an excellent record at Darlington, where he won in May and finished third last year.
Hamlin has dominated the season, scoring 16 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes. He has also shown strength on various tracks, winning on intermediate tracks (Charlotte and Atlanta), short tracks (New Hampshire), and road courses (Indianapolis). He is a three-time runner-up in the championship (2010, 2014, and 2020) and a former Daytona 500 winner (2016).
Hamlin will likely advance to the next round without difficulty, as he has a solid advantage in points and a history of excellence at Darlington, Richmond, and Bristol. He is also a threat to win any of the remaining races in the playoffs, as he has proven his ability to compete at a high level. His odds of winning the championship are +750.
Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson is one of the co-favorites to win the championship, along with Martin Truex Jr. He enters the playoffs as the No. 4 seed, with four wins and 28 playoff points. He also has a good record at Darlington, finishing second in May and seventh last year.
Larson has been outstanding throughout the season, scoring 17 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes. He has also shown dominance on different tracks, winning on intermediate tracks (Las Vegas and Nashville), short tracks (Bristol), and road courses (Sonoma). He is a former Rookie of the Year (2014) and All-Star Race winner (2019).
Larson’s seamless progression to the next round appears imminent, given his substantial point lead and a track record of strong performances at Darlington, Richmond, and Bristol. Moreover, he is a formidable candidate to emerge victorious in any of the upcoming playoff races, consistently demonstrating his ability to outclass his competition. His championship-winning prospects are currently set at +500 odds.
Ross Chastain
Ross Chastain finds himself in the underdog position regarding championship prospects, trailing behind most of his fellow drivers in the rankings. As the playoffs commence, Chastain holds the No. 5 seed, backed by three wins and 23 playoff points. Unfortunately, his performance history at Darlington has been less than stellar, with a 15th-place finish in May and a 16th-place finish in the previous year.
Chastain has managed to keep spectators surprised throughout the season, amassing nine top-five and 13 top-10 finishes.
His adaptability shines through as he’s claimed victories on various tracks, including intermediate tracks like Texas and Kentucky, short tracks like Martinsville, and even road courses like Road America. Notably, he secured a Truck Series championship in 2021 and came close to clinching the Xfinity Series runner-up position in 2020.
The road ahead appears challenging for Chastain as he faces the odds of advancing to the next round, requiring a dose of luck due to a narrow point buffer and a track record of struggle at Darlington, Richmond, and Bristol.
Furthermore, his chances of winning any of the remaining playoff races are considered long shots, given his reputation for upsetting the favorites. Currently, his odds of securing the championship stand at +850.
Tyler Reddick
Tyler Reddick is one of the dark horses to win the championship, behind some other drivers. He enters the playoffs as the No. 6 seed, with two wins and 18 playoff points. He also has a decent record at Darlington, finishing seventh in May and ninth last year.
Reddick has been impressive throughout the season, scoring eight top-five and 14 top-10 finishes. He has also shown potential on different tracks, winning on intermediate tracks (Michigan and Kansas) and road courses (Charlotte). He is a former Xfinity Series champion (2018 and 2019) and Rookie of the Year (2020).
Reddick will likely advance to the next round with some effort, as he has a moderate lead in points and a history of consistency at Darlington, Richmond, and Bristol. He is also a threat to win any of the remaining races in the playoffs, as he has proven his ability to challenge the leaders. His odds to win the championship are +1000.
Summary
The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are a thrilling and unpredictable competition where anything can happen, and anyone can win. The 16 drivers who qualified for the playoffs have different odds and predictions for winning the championship based on their performance in the regular season and their history at the playoff tracks.
Some of them are favorites, some of them are underdogs, and some of them are dark horses. They will all face the challenges and opportunities of the Round of 16, where they will race at Darlington, Richmond, and Bristol. Only 12 of them will advance to the next round, and only one will be crowned as the champion at Phoenix.